Caring for elderly people with diabetes at home – Something families cannot overlook.

This article helps families understand how to care for elderly people with diabetes at home, including... Risks if not properly controlled. And when should someone be present to ensure long-term safety?

Diabetes is a disease The "silent" disease.

It's painless, doesn't cause any obvious symptoms, and doesn't require the patient to be bedridden immediately. Therefore, very Many families are complacent.

"He seems to be eating and drinking normally."

"I can still walk around, so I'm probably fine."

But in reality, diabetes isn't dangerous right now. The danger lies in what happens afterward.

One day, your loved one might:

• sudden hypoglycemia
• blurred vision
• dizziness, falling
• or cardiovascular complications that cannot be addressed in time.

And at that point, the question was no longer "should I take better care of it?", but "I wish I had taken better care of it from the beginning."

What do elderly people with diabetes really need?

diabetes care It's not a big deal. But it's a small thing done repeatedly every day.

Patients need:

• A stable diet
  It's not about extreme dieting, but about eating at the right times and in the right amounts. Irregular eating habits are the biggest cause of significant blood sugar fluctuations.
• Monitor blood glucose
  Complex equipment isn't always necessary, but careful observation and understanding of the patient's body are essential.
• Remind me to take my medication on time.
  It sounds simple, but for the elderly, forgetting to take medication happens very often.
• Support for movement
  Just light exercise and a few simple movements each day can help control blood sugar better.

It doesn't sound too complicated. But imagine having to do all of this 365 days a year.

Where does the real danger lie?

Diabetes doesn't cause immediate pain, but Complications do exist..

And complications come without warning.

Some Danger is often overlooked.:

• Hypoglycemia
  Patients may suddenly feel tired, experience hand tremors, or even faint. This situation is very dangerous if no one is nearby.
• Foot ulcers
  Even a small scratch can become a serious ulcer due to poor wound healing.
• Kidney failure, cardiovascular disease
  These are insidious complications, but the long-term consequences are significant.

It is worth noting that:

• 👉 Most of these complications do not occur due to a lack of money.
• 👉 but due to a lack of regular monitoring

Can the family take care of them themselves?

The answer is: yes, it's possible.

But the reality is: it's very difficult to maintain.

In the beginning, everyone tried their best:

• separate cooking
• reminder for medication
• monitor

But after a few weeks, a few months:

• Work started to get busy.
• daily routines are disrupted.
• accumulated fatigue

And gradually, the care became merely a formality.

This is very many families They experience it, but few talk about it.

If you're in this phase – starting to find it difficult to control or monitor regularly – you might want to explore supporting solutions like SANs.

SAN is a care application. Old personThis helps patients and their families have an additional person to accompany them in daily monitoring.

Download the SAN app or call the Hotline: 1900.0666.88 for advice tailored to your specific situation.

Common mistakes when caring for people with diabetes

• The biggest mistake is thinking that "just taking medicine is enough."
• The second mistake is entrusting care to someone who lacks knowledge. For example, hiring an acquaintance or a housekeeper who doesn't understand what diabetes is.
• The third mistake is not controlling your diet. Just a few days of improper eating habits can cause blood sugar to spiral out of control.
• The fourth mistake is neglecting psychological monitoring. Older adults with long-standing diabetes often experience loss of appetite, sadness, or a lack of motivation.

Compare three options that families typically consider.

Hire someone you know or through an intermediary.

This is the quickest way. But the biggest risk is the lack of oversight. The caregiver is untrained, doesn't know how to handle situations, and if they quit unexpectedly, the family is left completely helpless.

Nursing home

There are systems available, but they are expensive and not always necessary for people with diabetes. Additionally, older people often live far from their families, which can easily lead to feelings of loneliness.

Home care with professional services

This is a balanced option. Older adults can stay at home, their families can still monitor them, and they receive the right support.

Cost – something everyone cares about.

Many people think that hiring a service will be expensive.

But if we compare:

• Nursing home: 15 – 60 million VND/month
• Daycare: 500,000 - 800,000 VND/day (excluding transportation)
• Home care: approximately 40,000 - 70,000 VND/hour

With long-term care, the costs of home care are usually much easier to manage.

More importantly, family doesn't have to sacrifice closeness.

Why do many families choose SAN?

It's not because SAN is cheaper, but because SAN gives them more peace of mind.

The SAN girls:

• trained
• background checks are conducted.
• working according to procedures

Additionally, the following is supported:

• Take the elderly to the doctor.
• hospital care
• follow-up appointments

SAN It has also been selected as a partner by hospitals such as Hospital 175 and City International Hospital, which gives families more confidence.

Diabetes isn't scary if it's properly controlled. But the hardest part is maintaining that control every day.

You don't have to do it alone.

Download the SAN app – an app for caring for the elderly and sick – or call the Hotline: 1900.0666.88 for advice tailored to your family's circumstances.

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